Tips for Shooting Fireworks

I ran a post on my personal blog site back in Jan 2013 after our Trip to Walt Disney World. The 4th of July is this week and I thought it appropriate to provide tips on shooting fireworks. I gave you the settings for these photos below. But in general to shoot fireworks what you want to set your camera to is:

F-Stop: f/11 to f/16

ISO: 100-200

Shutter Speed: Use BULB Mode and keep the shutter open, I usually have it open between 6 and 10 seconds. You need to time it with the show so that you get the bursts.

I find it nice to get something in the foreground to give the shot scale and provide a reference to the environment.

For the photo geeks. The photos are single exposures taken with a Canon 5D Mark II with a Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS @ 50mm (except for the portrait orientation) lens at f/13 with an ISO 100. The camera was mounted on an Induro CT114 w/ a Really Right Stuff Mini Head BH-25 Tripod and head.